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If you have been following me on social media you may have spotted that I was nominated in the The National Diversity Awards on International Women's Day 2017. I had the great pleasure of attending the awards ceremony at the majestic Liverpool Anglian Cathedral last Friday and the night was aptly named in jest; 'Donald Trump's worst nightmare' by comedian and National Diversity award-winner Adam Hill - quite fitting really! Boy do I have a run down for you. Founded by Paul Sesay, with a focus on equality and inclusion, The National Diversity Awards celebrates the excellent achievements of grass- roots communities that tackle the issues in today’s society, giving them recognition for their dedication and hard work. This years awards the sixth instalment was the biggest yet with over 22,000 nominations. Wow. National Diversity Awards, founder…

I know you will have seen the news about Charlottesville in America. I am feeling pretty discombobulated and still processing what is unfolding before our very eyes, but I wanted to impart a few words. We are not powerless. If we all admit it, we all know racial hatred has always been there, it is a residue from our history with slavery that is part of our make up, that has not yet left us, recently given momentum by a political climate (both in the UK and US) that is breeding bigotry and hatred right in front of our eyes. But here's the thing. At times like this we can feel powerless. However only WE are in control of whether we spiral further into hatred and divide, or not. I don't wish to devalue…

No doubt, you will have been at the receiving end of a "yes, but" and know how frustrating it can feel. When you are sharing your own personal experience, one that is yours and only yours, one that might be exceptionally painful and emotive and someone dives in with a 'yes, but' which, wipes out, negates and invalidates your experience in less that 60 seconds. Boom. I learnt very early on in both my counselling and NLP training about the importance of language and listening. Two massive missing factors when dealing with a 'yes, but' person. In order to understand and empathise, first we have to listen and use language that validates their experience. Invalidation of experiences to groups of people happens especially when talking about minority groups, parenting choices, sexuality, disability, abuse, gender…

We need to talk about Grenfell Tower and we need to talk about it, now. There are so many things I want to say. So many things I and many others have witnessed and been exposed to. Two weeks ago something happened which will add an uneasy syncopation to our history forever. Something happened that highlighted the great divide we have in this country, not only with race, but more-so with class. On the 14th June 2017, London truly was burning as a fire broke out in a single flat, caused by a faulty fridge, near Latimer Road which quickly spread to take out an entire tower block. The violent orange flames engulfed the building and became what I can only describe as a waste incineration, only with human beings inside. When I first found out some…

Yesterday was a busy day for me on social media. I was tagged many times in this article featured on The Pool exploring why women of colour feel excluded from the wedding industry and are turning to social media and away from traditional wedding magazines and websites. There is an element of me that is elated when I see articles like this, the shared experience, the passion and desire not to be silenced and to not accept inequality as "the norm" and then there is a part of me that gets immensely frustrated, that these articles are still being written. About the myriad of comments on social media from people experiencing the same exclusion. It makes me sad so many people continue to feel excluded simply because they are not represented. Take the words in…

Well. Be honest. Would you say your mental health is surviving or thriving? This week marks the start of Mental Health awareness week and I'll be running some activities over on my friendly and intimate Facebook Group to get us to think about our mental health positively and put ourselves at the top of our to do lists for a change. Mental Health Awareness Week is something I regularly campaigned for in my previous role in wellbeing and something that is exceptionally important, not just for one week of the year, but all of the time. The theme of this years Mental Awareness week is around 'surviving or thriving' and to explore why so many people in the UK, especially young adolescents, women and those under the age of 55 are experiencing mental ill-health. And…

I cannot tell you how elated I am by this news. Edward Enninful has just been appointed the first black, male editor of Vogue UK. Epic. Not only is he the first male editor in the media fashion world, he is also spearheaded the all black issue of Italian Vogue which sold out in hours. I am contacted by more and more brands recently, and have been working with well-known publishers who have realised the need for and the business benefit of more inclusive diversity in their business. I meet lots of small business owners who often nod in agreement and talk about how important diversity is and take NO action to address the discourse. ESPECIALLY in wedding media. Being a diverse business is not about tokenism and doing things 'once'. It is a business…

We live in a society where we are so often shackled down by outdated ideals and memes, that we often adhere to without logic or question. Just because that's the way it has always been done. I read an article recently about a government scheme to try to start teaching 'happiness' in schools and it filled me with dread. Not one because it may become yet another "subject" for children master. But more-so that ultimately happiness comes from within and that it is different for all of us. Do Schools Kill Creativity? https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity?language=en I saw a friends little girl pop up on my timeline on a school outing dressing up as a Tudor. I wondered why over three decades later children were still learning the same curriculum as I did? I often have debates with friends…

I recently received this message which reduced me to tears. Nova is a generous, warm and brave ambassador for true representation in an industry which is reluctant to change. She's fearless in her pursuit of change, whilst supporting individuals and businesses with their own resistance. Her empathy and understanding shines bright as she leads the way to a future filled with celebration of all weddings across all media. Pamella Dunn On Friday I had the pleasure of being invited to mentor at the Women of the World Festival, for the third year running which I will fill you in on soon once I have gathered my thoughts as there was so much GOLD to share with you all. But on International Women’s Day itself, I found out I had been nominated in the National Diversity…

Recognise your strength, recognise your capabilities. Know. Your. Worth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKqb_I5XV4Y&feature=youtu.be I'll be celebrating International Women's Day by mentoring at Women of The World Festival in London on Friday Come and join a whole load of driven and incredibly talented women striving to make their mark in this world at WOW Festival. Packed with inspiration, epic speakers, art, culture, debates, music, business advice and more. I'll be mentoring on Friday the 10th March in the mass speed mentoring session. Come and play! For further information about what is happening on International Women's Day near your area, please visit https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Events

About Me

I am a creative, with a zest for helping others. I work as a Diversity and Brand Consultant, Wellbeing Coach and am also the founder of
Nu Bride

I am an advocate for equality and enjoy working with people and progressive businesses to enable them to reach their truest potential. I love to connect, so please don’t hesitate to contact me, I’d be delighted to hear from you. nova@novareid.com